Film-drying apparatus



Dec. 11 1923. 1,477,063

` l s. KIND FILM DRYING APPARATUS Filed July e, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 z'las Mud,

FILM DRYING `APPARATUS Filed July 6,'1921 2 sheets-sheet 2' Patented Dec. vll., 1923. a

Umrao sia'ras SILAS KIND, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

. FILM-DRYING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 6, 1921*. Serial No. 482,749.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Sims KIND, citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of 5 Pennsylvania, have 'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Film-Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specifica/tion.

i This invention relates to a novel improvel ment in driers 'and more particularly to a device especially adapted for use in drying photographic films.

To that end the invention contemplates a simple and practical apparatus having a l maximum lm carrying capacity, thereby rendering the device especially useful in connection with commercial studio work where it is desirable to dry large quantities of films as quickly as possible after development, and ina minimum of space.

It is the general practice in commercial studios, for example, where lms of the type used in amateur photography are developed,

- to hang the develo ed films on lines or stringere to permit t em to dry. However, it can be readily appreciated that this method not only requires considerable space,

especially if a large volume of business is handled, but at the same time is more or less slow and uncertain since it is not always possible or convenient to subject the films -to a drying draft or airblast. Furthermore, it is not desirable to utilize a blast of air that would cause the films to knock about or against each other durin drlylilngbacause this practice would injure t e s.-

Accordingly, the present invention has in view a novel drying apparatus .which may be set up in a comparativel small space and I which has a practically un imited film handling capacity due to its novel structural features and the manner in which the films are subjected to a drying air blast. p

' A further object of the invention is to provide adevice that -is simple andreliable in its operation, easy to construct and assemble, and susceptible of embodimem-I in a form which facilitates handling or transportation.

With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the .sameconsists in the novel construction, com bipation and arrangement ofv parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

.A preferred and practical embodiment df the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a -side elevation of the improved device. f

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rotatable drying frame.

Figure 3'is an enlarged sectional view of the hib portion of the frame shown in igure 4 is a perspective view of one of the film carrying racks.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect it is proposed to provide a drying frame F preferably rotatably' supported, and consisting of a plurality of readily removable and replaceable film carrying racks R, the same being positioned in a suitablev and convenient manner in the path of an air blast so that the said blast of air will intersect the .plane of rotation of the drier at right angles.l In this connection, the drying frame may be equipped with means whereby the force of the'air blast will automatically cause the rotation thereof to bring different sections of the frame into position to be progressively subjected to the air blast while at the same time propelling the frame ast a loading or lling station where the Elms maybe hung on'the racksand removed when dry.

While the foregoing general features of construction may be embodied in various structural forms, the accompanying drawings illustrate a practical and commercial form of the invention. As will be seen from Figure 1, the present apparatus includes in its organization a suita le u right orstandard l. supported by base or oot 2 and having at its upper end an offset arm or bracket 3 which may include the arched and horizontal bar portions 4 and 5 respectively At the outer end of the bracket 3 the drying frame F previously referred to is rotatably supported. This'drying frame F preferably consists ofaplurality of sector shaped racks R which cooperate to provide ics a complete circular frame when all of the racks are in position." The said individual racks R are detachably held in the rotatable hub H at their inner ends, and each one may carry on its upper side a suitable fin or blade B.

Atany suitable position above the frame F, preferably upon the arched part 4 of the bracket 3 may be located a suitable air blast generating device A preferably in the form of an electrical fan of suitable type and design. As will be seen from the drawings the fan of this air blast generating device is arranged to direct the blast of air downwardly through the racks of the drying frame and against the blades B carried thereby. As the air blast passes through the racks it will have the effect of drying the films suspended therefrom, and at the same time rotate the entire frame F. The rotation of the frame under the action of the air blast will not only have the advantageous result of bringing all of the films carried by the racks into the zone of the air blast, but at the same time will advance the frame progressively past a vpoint Where an operator may stand to place the wet films on the racks and removevthe dried films therefrom. This, of course, is only one convenient method of handling the films, and it will also be understood that any or all of the racks may be removed from the frame and strung with films and then replaced in the hub H to form the circular Wheel-like frame F. Then the effeet of the air blast will be to rotate the entire frame as long as desired to dry the films.

From the foregoing it is apparent that one of the distinctive features of the invention is the/,provision of a circular wheellike frame consisting of a plurality of removable sector-shaped film carrying racks adapted to be detachably connected with the hub H which is supported on a vertical spindle in such a manner that the frame or wheel may rotate in a horizontal plane beneath an air blast generating device which forces an air blast through the frame at one side of its axis. The effect of the air blast being thus directed through the frame permits of the films carried by the racks to be dried in a thoroughly practical and effective manner, and without knocking into each other since the path of the air blast is parallel to the line in which the films hang from the racks. Furthermore, the frame F will be rotated in the manner already described due to the air blast st-riking the inclined blades Bv carried by the racks.

The construction of the rotatable drying frame may of course be varied under different manufacturing conditions and requirements but a simple and practical construction is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings wherein it will be observed that, the l1/ub H is preferably supported upontion and rotation of the frame.

an axle or spindle 6 having suitable ball bearings 7 to facilitate the free manipula- The intermediate portion of the hub is provided with annular channel 8 and has projecting therefrom a plurality of radially disposed rack supporting spokes 9, the same corresponding to the number of racks used, which accordin to thepresent embodiment may be eight.

he film carrying racksare substantially of the sector or triangular formation shown in Figure 4 and preferably consist of a frame 10 which may be of angular cross section provided with a vertical fiange 11 and a horizontal flange 12. The top flanges 12 of the frame preferably have anchored therein a plurality of cross-wires 13 for supporting the film hangers and one edge of the frame 10 has fitted'thereto the upstanding inclined blade B previously referred to. The attaching end 14 of the rack is provided with the spaced depending walls 15 having the notches 16 for engaging over the supportin spokes 9 radiating from the hub. When the end 14 of the rack is fitted into the channel 8 of the hub and the notches 16 take over or straddle the spokes 9 it will be apparent that the racks will be rigidly supported in a radial position with reference to the hub. When all of the racks are assembled in the hub the rotatable drying frame is completely formed, and it will of course be apparent that by reason of the construction at the inner ends of the racks and the construction of the hub, the same may be readily replaced and removed, as desired.

When the device isin use the films to be dried may be attached to the wires 13,0f the racks by means of suitable hangers or clips y and also if desired the lower ends of the films may be fitted with a suitable weight .a to insure their hanging in a more nearly vertical position. In connection with the rotation of the frame under the infiuence 0f the drying air blast it is pointed out that the frame is intended to rotate at a comparatively slow speed, for example at about eight revolutions per minute. Therefore, the fihns suspended from the racks will not be thrown outwardly by centrifu al force and thus interfere with the rotatlon of the frame by knocking against the standard 1 or against each other. When the films come into the zone of theair blast the strength or force thereof is sufficient to hold the films in a vertical position, `since as previously pointed out the .path of the air blast is parallel to the plane of suspension of the films.

Without further description it is thought that the many features and advantages of,

of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sco e of the appended claims.

1. A photographic film drying apparatus including the combination of an air blast generating device, a rotatable iilm carrying frame operating transversely of the path of said air blast, mea-'ns for supporting a pluralit of films from said frame whereby they wi be suspended in a position intersected by the air blast, and means carried by said frame and operated upon by said air blast for imparting motion to said frame.

2. A drying device of the class described including a support; a dryin frame, including a plurality of detacha le film suspending elements, rotatably carried by said support; and an air blast generating device carried by said support at a position above the rotatable drying frame and discharging into and through said frame.

3. A drying device of the class described including a support, a rotatable drying frame including a hub, a plurality of film carrying racks detachably engagin said hub, an air blast generating device a apted to discharge an air blast towards said frame, and means for rotating the frame in thel path of said air blast.

4. A drying device of the class described including support, a rotatable drying frame including a hub, a plurality offilm carrying racks detachably yengaging said hub, an air blast generating device adapted to discharge an air blast towards said frame, and propelling blades carried by the film racks and adapted to be engaged by the air blast to propel the frame progressively throu h the zone of the blast.

5. vdrying device of the class described including a rotatable drying frame comprising a hub, a plurality of radial rejections carried by the hub, and a p urality of individual film carrying racks adapted to engage said projections.

6. A drying device of the class described including a rotatable drying frame consisting of a hub having an intermediate channel, radial supporting members projecting from said hub, and4 a plurality of independently removable and replaceable film carryracks having a portion for engaging 1n wh said radial supports and with the channel of the hub.

7 A drying device of the class described including an air blast enerating device, a rotatable drying frame ocated inthe path of an air blast generated by said device and consisting of a hub, drying racks adapted to have a detachablelengagement therewith and means adapted to be acted upon by the blast of air from said device to rotate the same.

8. A drying device of the class described including -a dryin frame consisting of a rotatably supporte hub, and a plurality of substantially sector-shaped film carrying racks detachably engaged therewith. y

9. A drying device of the class described including a drying frame consisting of a plurality of detachable film carrying racks. each rack comprising a frame including side bars and a plurality of film supporting wires having their opposite ends anchored in the said slde bars of the frame.

10. A drying device of the class described including an air blast generating device, a drying'frame located at one side of the plane of rotation of said device and consisting of a plurality of film carrying racks, each rack having film supporting members and a propeller blade adapted to be acted upon by said air blast to impart movement to said frame.

In testimonly whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in t e presence of two witnesses. SILAS KIND. Witnesses:

Cms. B. BRUNNER, ,e FroRENoE E. BARBEREY. j 

